Having read and heard a great deal regarding the Liberals moving forward with the HST, I feel that the people of this province deserve a clearer explanation of the agreement that the federal and provincial governments have entered into.

First of all, the term “harmonzied sales tax” is misleading. The two levels of government are not joining together or “harmonizing” the PST with the GST. To do so would be unconstitutional for the following reasons.

The GST is an indirect tax, which falls within the “exclusive” jurisdiction of the federal government (Section 91 of the Constituion Act 1982). This means only the federal government, and no one else, including the provinces, can levy and collect an indirect tax within their respective (provincial) jurisdictions. Nor can they delegate a province to levy and collect an indirect tax on their behalf.

The PST is a direct tax, which falls within the “exclusive” jurisdiction of the provinces (Section 92.2 of the Constitution Act 1982). This means the federal government cannot levy or collect a direct tax on behalf of any province, period. And the federal government cannot be delegated to levy and collect a direct tax on behalf of any province either.

In 1950, the Supreme Court of Canada, in what is known as the Lord Nelson case, made it very clear that neither level of government could delegate their exclusive taxing authority to the other, nor could they receive that delegation from the other. Therefore, under the HST agreement, in order for the (B.C.) provincial government and the federal government to abide by the Supreme Court ruling, the (B.C.) provincial government has agreed to stop charging the PST altogether, which will be, in essence, “zero”, as of July 1, 2010, and the GST (renamed the HST), will be 12 per cent.

Although this agreement respects the Supreme Court decision, and the letter of the Constitution Act 1982, it certainly does not respect the spirit, purpose and intent of the law as was originally intended by the drafters of the British North America Act of 1867, now known as the Constitution Act of 1982.

The other important point worth mentioning, which has not received any attention at all, is the fact that there is nothing in this agreement that prevents the provincial government from re-instating a provincial sales tax (PST) in the future. So it is very possible that sometime down the road, we could be faced with a 12 per cent federal HST (it’s really the GST, only higher) plus a new provincial sales tax.

With this new federal excise (indirect) tax, our provincial government, with its total lack of wisdom and foresight, has now placed its complete trust in the hands of federal government to transfer comparable revenues back to the province.

I don’t know about you, but that kind of external control makes me feel uncomfortable.

If we are to be stuck with the HST, we should tell the feds what Quebec told them. “If you want us to jump on the HST bandwagon, then WE will collect the (HST) and WE will make transfer payment to YOU,” or words to that effect. Makes perfect sense to me.

I would urge everyone to make sure they make their voice heard by signing the official petition between April 6 and July 5, 2010. It’s time the government started listening to the people who elected them to their positions of trust, not the bureaucrats and big business behind the curtain.

Unfortunately!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Jim Ippel on 10th April 2010 In answer to Ms. Laporte, the Native People in BC want equality as long as they don't have to pay the same taxes that the white people do. Equality seems to end when it comes to paying taxes, but keep sending the money for welfare, health coverage, child benifits, and any other free money available. First Nations People are not the only ones affected by the HST, and from your comments I interreptrut that you feel First Nations should be exempt from the HST. You, insome cases, are not the only ones who live below the poverty line, but why should you be treated any differently than white folk living under the same conditions? Are you suddenly special, and be given more because you are "First Nations"? There are may whites living on fixed incomes who live below the poverty line, yet somehow perservere, carry on with their lives without a bunch of whining, and do the best with what they have. These are the people who deserve our respect, and my hat off to the Natives who live without demands, the senior generation, not the young people. Respectfully submitted.....................

amen

Comment by mbw on 7th April 2010Amen. I agree completely.

First Nations take note!

Comment by Carrie La Porte on 7th April 2010Many of my First Nations' friends are labouring under the misconception that they will, because of Native status, be unaffected by this tax, and therefore can safely ignore it. WRONG! This tax, unlike the PST, will NOT be exempt for those holding a Status card. Since this will actually be vevied on more things, it could well spell economic catastrophe for many, many people, INCLUDING many First Nations' people. This is a tax which will harm both the working poor and the poorest of the poor.